A Grand Tour Of Scandinavia & St. Petersburg

Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia17 days

About

Take this incredible tour through Scandinavia & to St. Petersburg and be prepared for awe-inspiring scenery, charming cityscapes, scenic train rides, fabulous fjord cruises, & a glittering finale at St. Petersburg – Russia’s ‘window to the west’.

Starting in Copenhagen, city of the Little Mermaid & Hans Christian Anderson, on to Norway’s fine capital, Oslo, and through the beautiful fjord landscapes of Bergen, Hardangerfjord, Naeroyfjord and Geirangerfjord, then to captivating Stockholm, stunning Helsinki, and, opulent St. Petersburg – this is a grand tour of vibrant cities, fabulous fjords, cultural delights & age-old treasures.

You should experience it because...

Scandinavia is western Europe’s most prosperous, pristine and progressive corner. Add to it a taste of Russia’s glorious St. Petersburg, and you have this incredible journey through beautiful fjord landscapes and charming Nordic capitals, and in to a land full of age-old treasures that lay hidden behind the Iron Curtain for decades.

Nordic capitals, dramatic fjords, scenic train rides, opulent Russia

Break in to a sweat in a traditional Finnish sauna in Helsinki and take a dip in one of the public baths.

See where the Nobel Prize is awarded at Stockholm’s City Hall, and catch the panoramic view from its 348-foot tower.

Bike around Oslo, from the harbour to the Aker Brygge

Tour the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, the grandest monument to the Russian rococo style

Places covered 17 Days

Day 1 – 3 Copenhagen – attractions & sightseeing – overnight cruise to Oslo
Day 4 & 5 Oslo –attractions & sightseeing - Ulvik
Day 6 & 7 Ulvik – Hardangerfjord – Bergen – Flam Railway - Balestrand
Day 8 & 9 Balestrand – Fjord Cruise – Geiranger - Oslo
Day 10 Oslo – Stockholm
Day 11 Stockholm – sightseeing and attractions
Day 12 Stockholm – Helsinki (overnight cruise)
Day 13 Helsinki – sightseeing and attractions
Day 14 Train to St. Petersburg
Day 15 & 16 St. Petersburg - sightseeing and attractions
Day 17 Depart

Days Details
1 - 3 Copenhagen – attractions & sightseeing Explore Copenhagen on foot - the city is small and compact.Take in three royal palaces – the 18th century Amalienborg Palace and square with is four impressive rococo buildings, the beautiful medieval fortification of Kastellet set in a peaceful green oasis, and the magnificent renaissance Rosenborg Castle.A network of bridges and drawbridges connects the two main islands of the city. Don’t miss the Nationalmuseet – set inside an 18th century royal residence with exhibits on stone age and Vikings. And visit the vibrant Tivoli Gardens – an amusement park created in 1840.Start your fairytale tour at the statue of The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen Harbour. For over 100 years, she has impressed visitors on her rock and is the most photographed statue in Denmark.Colourful Nyhavn, overlooking the bustling harbour in Copenhagen’s centre, is where Hans Christian Andersen spent most of his life living in three different houses – nos. 18, 20 and 67 - and writing many famous tales. No. 9. Nyhavn, is the oldest house dating back to 1681, Relax over dinner at one of the cosy restaurants in the harbour and rest your feet at the quayside.The 17th century Round Tower in Copenhagen is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe and the views of the city from here are extraordinary. See the library hall where Hans Christian Andersen would sit and write his fairy tales.Stop off at Fairy Tale House in Copenhagen - an interactive museum with hand-written manuscripts, live readings and Hans Christian Andersen’s study.On day 3, take the overnight cruise to Oslo and enjoy your first Scandinavian smorgasbord dinner as you cruise gently up the Kattegat.
4 & 5 Oslo –attractions & sightseeing – Ulvik Soak up the atmosphere of Oslo by exploring the city on foot and taking in the great mix of old and new architecture.There’s a new urban waterside development with cafes, bars and street performers, lush green forests nearby, and fjords that bustle with sailboats.Or explore the Oslo region by bike from the harbour to the Aker Brygge, or on Skibladner – the oldest paddle steamer in the world. And visit the impressive Vigeland Sculpture Park.The Munch Museum is a ‘scream’, and take a leap of faith and visit the famed Holmenkollen Ski Museum and the ski jump.Stroll along the Karl Johan shopping boulevard, and dine at one of the many city restaurants on local dishes such as lobster ravioli or duck in rosehip sauce.
6 & 7 Ulvik – Hardangerfjord – Bergen – Flam Railway – Balestrand Departing from Oslo, your journey continues along the charming Halling Valley to the town of Geilo. Stop off for lunch here, and then continue through the wild Hardanger Mountain plateau to Fossli, stopping to view the thundering Voringsfoss waterfall with a vertical drop of 180m. Travelling on down the amazing Mabodal Canyon to the idyllic Hardanger Fjord and the heart of Norway’s apple-growing region, where the blossom in May is spectacular. This is the heart of stunning fjord country where you will enjoy the small town of Ulvik that is framed by hills and mountains and with wonderful views up the fjord.After an overnight stay in Ulvik your journey continues along the beautiful Hardanger Fjord, famous for its many fruit orchards. Arrive at Bergen and take a 2 hour city tour – visit the popular Fish and Flower market, the famous Bryggen Harbour with its gabled packhouses, and the old Hanseatic Quarter. Take the ride on the funicular to Mt. Floien for the best views of the city and the fjords below. From Bergen, drive via Dale to the town of Voss, and board the train in Voss for a ride on the beautiful Bergen Railway to the mountain station of Myrdal. From Myrdal ride on the incredible Flam Railway, a masterpiece of engineering descending 2,838 feet in less than one hour, and that takes you past exciting waterfalls and magnificent mountain scenery. From Flam, cruise by boat along the Sojn Fjord pass waterfalls, sheer mountain cliffs, and snow-clad peaks, continue by coach across the Vika Mountains, and, after a short ferry crossing from Vangsnes, arrive in the beautiful resort of Balestrand.
8 & 9 Balestrand – Fjord Cruise – Geiranger - Oslo Days nine and ten take you by ferry from Dragsvik to Hella, followed by a scenic tour along the northern side of the Sogn Fjord to Sogndal. Continue by road, passing under the Jostedal Glacier, the largest in Europe, to the village of Skie at the northern end of beautiful Lake Joster. Have lunch in a nearby mountain restaurant and then continue around the Nord Fjord to the picturesque village of Hellesylt. From here, board the ferry for a one hour’s cruise along the spectacular Geiranger Fjord that passes magnificent waterfalls such as the Bridal Veil and the Seven Sisters. Overnight stay overlooking the Geiranger Fjord.From the top of the famous Serpentine Road, take in some amazing views of the Geiranger Fjord, before crossing the rugged Grotli Mountains to Lom. Continue via Lake Vaga before descending the magnificent Gudbrands Valley to the tourist town of Lillehammer. After lunch continue past Norway’s largest lake, Lake Mjosa, and back to Oslo.
10 Oslo – Stockholm Today, depart Oslo towards the Swedish border. Cross into the attractive province of Varmland and arrive in the city of Kalrstad on Lake Vanem, the largest lake in Sweden. Continue through a wonderful landscape of luscious green forests and sparkling lakes to reach the Swedish capital, Stockholm in the afternoon. Get your bearings in Stockholm – one of the most beautiful major cities in the world – a mirage of saffron-and-terracotta-coloured buildings shimmering between blue water and blue skies in the summer, or covered with snow and dotted with lights in the winter.
11 Stockholm – sightseeing and attractions Sightsee at your leisure on a ‘hop-on hop-off’ boat stopping as often as you like, take a historical canal tour and learn about the history of Stockholm, or a classic boat tour that travels under 15 bridges and passes 2 locks.Explore the old town, Gamla Stan, and its glorious labyrinth of cobbled streets, alleyways, faded mustard coloured town houses and handsome meeting squares. See the beauty of the Vasa wooden ship at the Vasa Museum, and stroll through 5 centuries of Swedish history at Skansen – the world’s first open-air museum.And take in the Stockholm City Hall with its 44m long hall glowing with golden mosaics, or the Millesgarden, home of sculptor Carl Milles.Be transported up 130 metres in a glass gondola to the top of the Ericsson Globe, the views of the city and its islands are spectacular.And marvel at the 600-room Royal Palace, sitting atop the Gamla Stan, where tapestries, arms and armour, and the crown jewels are on display.
12 Stockholm – Helsinki (overnight cruise) Take a relaxing overnight luxury cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki and feast on a vista of archipelago scenery when the sun comes up. Enjoy delicious food, comfortable cabins, and relaxing saunas, and, by the time you arrive in Helsinki you will be rested and raring to explore Finland’s exciting capital.
13 Helsinki – sightseeing and attractions Have a taste of Finland at the Old Market Hall on Helsinki’s waterfront. The harbour is the heart of the city. Watch the giant ferries glide into port – it is a defining memory and an essential Helsinki experience.See the beauty of this stunning Nordic city on a sightseeing tour with live commentary from a knowledgeable guide. The city tour takes in the most interesting parts of Helsinki, such as the historical centre with Senate Square, the Presidential Palace, City Hall, the Parliament building, Finlandia Hall and the Opera House.Marvel at curvaceous and quirky metallic Kiasma – an elegant contemporary building and a symbol of the city’s modernization.Learn about traditional Finland at the Seurasaaren Ulkomuseo island museum with a collection of historic traditional houses, manors and outbuildings transferred here from around Finland.Relax with a sauna and swim at the Yrjonkadun Uimahalli art deco baths – a fusion of soaring Nordic elegance and Roman tradition.Take your pick of bars and clubs in cool downtown Helsinki. The Arctic Icebar is carved out of ice, including tables and bars.
14 train to St. Petersburg Depart from Helsinki by train, the journey takes around four hours. Enjoy lunch on the train as you whiz past past wild Icelandic landscapes and in to Russia. On arrival at St. Petersburg you will have time for a one hour’s guided boat cruise along the Neva River with a visit to St. Isaac’s Cathedral that houses a large Russian Orthodox museum, and is one of the most impressive landmarks of the Russian Imperial capital.
15 & 16 St. Petersburg - sightseeing and attractions St. Petersburg, originally built on a swamp, is now a modern European city with an intricate network of canals, and a beautiful mix of baroque and neoclassical architecture.A sightseeing tour takes you to all of the splendours of the city including the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of the Bleeding Saviour, and the Nevsky Convent.Visit the stunning state Hermitage Art Museum, set in the magnificent Winter Palace, with its roof topped by rows of classical statues.The Peterhof Palace and Park are often referred to as ‘the Russian Versaille’. Inspired by Peter the Great, the majestic palace with its impressive Grand Cascade system of fountains and wonderful parks is truly magnificent.A visit to Catherine’s Palace at Pushkin will take your breath away. This 18th century palace is nearly 1km in circumference, with elaborately decorated blue-and-white facades featuring gilded atlantes, caryatids and pilasters. The interiors are no less spectacular.Enjoy an evening of champagne and Russian folklore at the beautiful Nikolaevsky Palace.
17 Depart

€ 4,800 per person	(Prices are in Euros and exclude international flights)
Price Per Person in Twin Sharing Accomodation
(Prices are in Euros and exclude international flights)
All rates mentioned are an approximate price per person on a twin-sharing basis, and are based on a minimum of 6-9 adults travelling together. Rates are subject to change based on the number of passengers and the time of year. (Flights, visas, travel insurance, lunches & dinners, personal expenses not included. There may be some itinerary activities not included also – please ask). Inclusions : - Traditional ,Boutique or Heritage accommodation where possible or Quality accommodation (on a twin-sharing basis) in centrally located 4*Hotels . -Meals – breakfast in all destinations - Internal Travel by rail - ferries - coach as applicable -Guided sightseeing excursions as per the itinerary as applicable -First arrival and last departure transfers -Entrance and excursion costs as indicated Travel is based on private coaches with Local guides . You do have the option of Independent travel .Get in Touch to discuss on how we could tailor the trip to suit you .

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Scandinavia is glorious during the warm summer months – enjoy boat trips around archipelagos, cruises and hikes through the Norwegian fjords, festivals galore in Denmark, and summer lakeside cottage havens in Finland. The summer sun doesn’t set in Scandinavian Lapland so head outside for a feast of forests, lakes, rivers and outdoor fun. It’s a different place in the winter - hop on a sleigh to see the Northern Lights, ski in Lapland from February to May, meet Santa in Finland at Xmas-time, and head-off for cultural city-breaks in Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen & Helsinki all year-round.

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About Us

Freedom Holidays is passionate about creating inspirational tailor-made travel to Europe and beyond. Our business is your pleasure and our expert and dedicated team is here to listen to your travel needs down to the ‘nth’ degree, leaving you ‘free’ to enjoy your holiday of a lifetime with no gimmicks, no hassle, and no stress. What makes us different? With 14 years experience of providing quality tailor-made customised holidays with an ‘off-the beaten-track’ themed approach, we take you to well-known destinations as well as far flung locations (or a mixture of both), leaving you safe in the knowledge that you will be looked after every step of the way.

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